Centaurus High School opened its doors to local students just over 50 years ago. On Saturday, August 13, the gates of Howard P. Spangenberg Field will swing open to welcome milers of all ages for the 4th Mile High Mile.
This stellar stadium was upgraded just a handful of years ago. Its speedy oval is just a stone's throw away from the Coal Creek Trail, providing a perfect spot for evening warm-ups and cool-downs. During cross country and track season, any given weekday will find the trail populated with athletes from Peak to Peak, Monarch, and Centaurus High Schools.
Howard P. Spangenberg Field was named after one of Centaurus High's long-time beloved teachers, the late Howard Spangenberg. In addition to his time teaching history in Louisville High and then Centaurus classrooms for 24 years, Spangenberg coached a variety of sports, including track & field, boxing, baseball, basketball, football, and more.
I consider myself fortunate to have been trackside for perhaps this track's finest moment in the spring of 2021. Just one week after Cherry Creek's Parker Wolfe broke Rich Martinez's 40-year-old record, Mountain Vista's Harrison Witt toed the line for the 1600m along with 24 other competitors. Witt set a torrid early pace and Coach Mark Roberts helped add to the excitement of the moment on the mic.
Witt opened an immense lead and just had this look each time he came around. We all realized something special was in the offing. I later apologized to the athletes I was coaching in the race, as my eyes were mostly focused on what was happening far in front of the pack. When he passed this cheering coach with 100m to go, I knew he had a shot at the record. With Roberts' voice booming and cajoling, Witt stormed to an all-class state record of 4:05.18.
Will we see similar heroics in Lafayette on Saturday night? Athletes running the full mile will need to run around 4:07 or faster to equal or better the run of current Princeton Tiger, Harrison Witt.
Will the $3,500+ in prize money, fully automatic timing, under-the-lights magic, and supportive crowds bring out the local pros and spur the competition necessary to run a low four minute (or better) performance? Is there a chance the 4:30 barrier will be challenged in the Elite Women's race?
On Athletic Club's Ollie Hoare owns the men's Colorado soil record of 3:56.8, while Colorado's own Emma Coburn holds down the women's record with a 4:32.7.
The event records were both set in the 2021 incarnation of the MHM at Niwot HS. Jeff Thies scorched a 4:06.11 while Sara Vaughn dominated with a 4:38.84.
Race director Todd Straka is hoping local high school teams and coaches, currently prepping for this fall's cross country season, will come out to what could be a wonderful team-building event to cheer on athletes, assist meet organizers, and have a blast at this annual, high-energy track event.
Races kick off at 6pm.
Schedule:
6:00 Kids
6:15 Kids
6:30 MS
6:45 MS
7:15 HS Girls
7:15 HS Boys
7:30 Teri Leiker Mile
8:00 Open - 5:30 and slower
8:15 Open - 5:30 faster
8:30 Grand Masters
8:45 Masters Elite
9:00 Elite Women
9:15 Elite Men
Awards
In the middle of the event, friends and family of the late Teri Leiker will celebrate her life during the Teri Leiker Memorial Mile. A long-time Special Olympics competitor and King Soopers employee, Leiker's life was lost in the tragic King Soopers shooting last spring. The Memorial Mile was created last year by local runner, Brendan Reilly, as a way to remember Teri and the other victims of the shooting.
With Kids, Middle School, High School, Open, Masters, and Grand Masters races on tap in addition to the Elite races, new and more experienced athletes all have the opportunity to race against their peers in the Mile High Mile.
While supplies last, registrants for the Middle School and High School races will receive a copy of Jay Johnson's Consistency is Key: 15 Ways to Unlock Your Potential as a High School Runner! Plus, Runners Roost will be awarding 3-deep gift cards for the Middle School and High School athletes.